The Cherished Five In Sikh History

On the 30th of March, 1699, the Sikh Guru Gobind Singh called together a special assembly at the Keshgarh Fort at Anandpur. Following the morning devotions, the Guru asked for a volunteer, saying, "The entire sangat is very dear to me; but is there a devoted Sikh who will give his head to me here and now? A need has arisen at this moment which calls for a head." One man arose and followed the Guru out of the room. When the Guru returned to the assembly with a bloodied sword, he asked for another volunteer. Another man followed. This was repeated three more times, until at last the Guru emerged with a clean sword and all five men alive and well. Those five volunteers would become the first disciples of the Khalsa, the martial community within the Sikh religion, and would come to be known as the Panj Piare, or the Cherished Five. Despite the centrality of this group to modern Sikhism, scholarship on the Panj Piare has remained sparse. Louis Fenech's new book examines the Khalsa and the role that the the Panj Piare have had in the development of the Sikh faith over the past three centuries.

Despite the centrality of this group to modern Sikhism, scholarship on the Panj Piare has remained sparse. Louis Fenech's new book examines the Khalsa and the role that the Panj Piare have had in the development of the Sikh faith over the past three centuries.

Illustrations: 3 Maps Description: History of the Sikhs is a five volume series dealing with all aspects-religious, philosophical, political, military, social, economic and cultural, and the contribution of Sikhism to world civilization, in particular to human rights, principles of liberty, equality and fraternity, and to the creed of democracy and secularism. The aim is to present a comprehensive view of the rise, growth and development of Sikh thought and action almost in every direction. The entire series is based on original contemporary sources in English, Gurmukhi, Marathi, Persian and Urdu known to exist in India and abroad. This first volume gives the story of Ten Masters who provided leadership to the downtrodden people of the Punjab both in religious and political fields for about two centuries. Their aim was to remove the bitterness that had persisted between the rulers and their subjects for the past five hundred years. They wished to create a new society based upon mutual brotherhood, and freedom of thought, expression and action. It was under the circumstances almost an impossible task. But there is nothing like a dream to create the future. Utopia today, flesh and blood tomorrow. Man's onward march requires that the heights around him should be ablaze with noble and glorious deeds of valour and self-sacrifice to serve as guiding lights. Such evolutionary and revolutionary models were furnished by Guru Arjan, Guru Tegh Bahadur, Guru Gobind Singh, and his four sons-Ajit Singh (18 years), Jujhar Singh (14 years), Zorawar Singh (8 years), and Fatah Singh (5 years)-as well as by their numerous disciples like Bhais Mati Das, Sati Das and Dayal Das. The main feature of this book are: A critical appraisement of Guru Nanak's Janam Sakhis, justification for celebrating Guru Nanak's birthday in November instead of in April, Guru Nanak's compositions, Mardana's death at Baghdad, how Amritsar developed into a Sikh centre, Guru Arjan's martyrdom, why Guru Hargobind took to militarism, Guru Har Rae's residence at Nahan, Hukam Namas of Guru Tegh Bahadur, Guru Gobind Singh's formula of five into five, his literary works and Hukam Namas, Emperor Bahadur Shah's pious fraud, eminent personalities and instructions, impact of Gurus'; teachings on Indian society, and why Jats became followers of Khatri Gurus.

These Pathbreaking Essays By Historians, Geographers, Economists And Scholars In Sikh Religion And Punjabi Literature Cover The Whole Span Of Sikh History And Nearly All Its Important Aspects. The Study Covers Sikhism And The Martial And Political Culture Of The Khalsa. Sikh Patronage Of Painting, Journalism, Demographic Change, And Spatial Dispersal Along With The Diaspora Have Also Been Dealt With In This Volume. Contributors Who Have Made This Volume Possible As A Tribute To Professor Indu Banga Include J.S. Grewal, Iqtidar Alam Khan, Joginder Singh, Darshan Singh Tatla, Shinder Singh Thandi, And Gurinder Singh Mann Among Many Others.

Some fourteen million Sikhs worldwide are heirs today to a tradition of faith recalling the devotional spirituality of Guru Nanak, who lived in the Punjab five hundred years ago. The twentieth century has witnessed a heightening of Sikhs' self-awareness as a community with an identity and aspirations distinct from their Hindu as well as their Muslim neighbours. Overseas migration to countries such as Canada has also produced new challenges to Sikhs to think through the question of what the core of their tradition is and what aspects of their heritage are central in times far removed from Guru Nanak's and places distant from the Punjab. Twenty-four authoritative studies by scholars on four continents range across the contemporary Sikh experience in India and overseas. The contributors include experts on history, religion, literature, linguistics, politics, sociology and anthropology.

The Book Takes Up A Spectrum Of Issues Related To The Rise, Growth And Challenges To Sikhism In A Meticulous Way And Dissected Issues With Clarity And Authenticity.